As the sun set, the campus was bathed in a golden glow.
Groups of students, dressed in matching school uniforms and martial arts outfits, poured out of classrooms, chatting and laughing as they made their way to the cafeteria.
Li Yuan and Wan Xiao stepped out of the senior year teaching building, walked around a large flower bed, and entered the office building.
At the end of the left corridor on the first floor was Teacher Xu's office.
Though it was called an office, it was actually an impressively large martial arts room.
"Reporting in."
"Reporting in." The two reached the door, and Li Yuan glanced around, estimating that the martial arts room was over five hundred square meters.
This was his second visit.
There were many advanced instruments, like life energy testing devices and fist power testing fields, all clearly of a higher grade.
One wall was lined with cold weapons like guns, staffs, and axes, most of which were not sharpened.
But there were also some that were.
Li Yuan even noticed a private bathroom and a therapy room at the end of the office.
"Li Yuan, this is a real martial artist's training room. Ranked martial artists can practice here without worries," Wan Xiao whispered, a hint of envy in his eyes. "My training room is less than a hundred square meters, not even one-fifth the size of this place, and there's no dedicated therapy room."
"If I want therapy, my dad has to drive me to the martial hall. It's a hassle."
Li Yuan stayed silent.
A therapy room? He didn't even have a separate training room at home.
As for going to the martial hall? He couldn't afford that.
From what Li Yuan knew, a martial artist's training room like this, occupying hundreds of square meters, would cost at least ten million Blue Star Coins just for the renovations.
In Jiang City, the price of a bare apartment in a decent area could exceed twenty thousand Blue Star Coins per square meter.
Li Yuan estimated that this martial arts room would cost at least twenty million Blue Star Coins.
What was the average monthly salary in Jiang City? Li Yuan remembered seeing on the news not long ago that it was around eleven thousand three hundred forty-two Blue Star Coins.
The median income was even lower.
"You two come in." Teacher Xu stood in the center of the martial arts room, his figure resembling a towering iron statue, especially with his metal right arm that exuded a sense of intimidation.
Xu's aura was more restrained than when he was in the classroom, but somehow felt even more dangerous.
"Teacher." Li Yuan and Wan Xiao responded obediently.
"Wan Xiao, I've submitted your transfer request. It should be approved by six o'clock tonight. Once it's approved, you can report to the elite class tomorrow," Xu said, looking at Wan Xiao.
Wan Xiao, nicknamed Bear, was quite sturdy, but in front of Xu, he seemed a bit small.
"So soon?" Wan Xiao was caught off guard.
"Don't worry, I'm not rushing you out," Xu said coldly but patiently. "Once you awaken your spirit, you'll be able to practice advanced cultivation methods, which are much more efficient than basic ones."
"With the college entrance exam approaching, it's already late for you to awaken your martial spirit. Getting into the elite class sooner might give you an extra point on the exam."
Xu continued, "Once your application is approved, the techniques you tested that match your entry-level method will be sent to your campus account. I remember you have a training room at home, so skip self-study tonight and try practicing those techniques one by one."
"After you report tomorrow, the elite class teacher will guide you one-on-one until you master them," Xu added.
"Thank you, Teacher." Wan Xiao expressed his gratitude.
He understood now that Xu wasn't trying to push him away; rather, he was genuinely considering his future.
"Go on." Xu waved his hand.
Wan Xiao saluted and turned to leave.
"Li Yuan." Xu looked at Li Yuan again, curiosity shining in his eyes. "Your spear technique and movement technique should both be at the third level by now."
Third level? Li Yuan was taken aback.
In high school, there was no mention of first, second, or third levels.
Only skill scores were given.
"Oh, I forgot." Seeing Li Yuan's expression, Xu realized, "That's the term for ranked martial artists. Let me rephrase: have you reached the gold rank on the Star Combat Network?"
"I just reached it half a month ago," Li Yuan replied.
Blue Star and the seven major planets all had virtual networks that simulated reality with over 70% accuracy, and the most popular game on those networks was the 'Star Combat Network.'
"The Star Combat Network is unique; it's not just a game," Xu said, looking at Li Yuan. "It mainly tests a person's martial arts skills and is a great training ground."
Li Yuan nodded in agreement.
The popularity of the Star Combat Network was closely tied to its significant impact on reality, heavily promoted by the entire Seven Star Alliance across various planets.
"Being able to hold your ground at the gold rank shows that your spear technique and movement technique have likely reached the third level," Xu said. "At your age, achieving this level in martial arts is quite impressive."
Li Yuan smiled, "It's thanks to your teaching, Teacher."
Xu's usually cold face cracked a rare smile.
"Your physical constitution is improving quickly too," Xu said, curiosity evident in his eyes. "Can you tell me the reason?"
He was genuinely interested.
"I just practice normally," Li Yuan shook his head. "You should know my family situation; I can't afford any special medicines."
"Don't worry, I'm not doubting that you used any banned substances to boost your potential," Xu reassured him.
In this era, some special items could rapidly enhance physical abilities, but most of them came at the cost of one's life potential, leading to serious side effects.
Using them could make it hard to improve further, or worse, shorten one's life.
Decades ago, when the martial arts college entrance exam first began, many students resorted to such methods to try to get into good universities.
Later, as the exam rules were refined, these substances were banned and could not be produced or used freely.
Before the entrance exam, various devices would conduct comprehensive tests on students.
"Normal practice can lead to such progress? That's great!" Xu smiled genuinely. "I have high hopes for you as a martial artist."
"You have high hopes for me?" Li Yuan was taken aback.
Since Xu took over as the homeroom teacher, he had indeed felt more valued.
But that was just the usual attention given to good students.
Hearing Xu say he had high hopes for him as a martial artist was a first.
Becoming a martial artist was incredibly difficult!
"Teacher, I haven't awakened my martial spirit yet," Li Yuan couldn't help but say.
"Is awakening your spirit really that important?" Xu countered.
Li Yuan was puzzled. Was it not important?
"It is important," Xu continued, "but in a certain sense, it isn't."
Li Yuan was even more confused.
"What is a martial spirit? Essentially, it's the degree of compatibility with the seven advanced cultivation methods," Xu explained.
"Only when the compatibility exceeds ninety percent can one start practicing advanced methods early, significantly boosting the efficiency of physical improvement," Xu said. "This greatly increases the chances of becoming a powerful martial artist."
"This is why the Seven Star Alliance places such importance on martial spirits."
"Even the five major martial arts schools across the country prefer students who have awakened their martial spirits for this reason."
"After all, starting advanced cultivation methods earlier increases the chances of becoming a ranked martial artist, and the younger one becomes a martial artist, the greater the chance for significant achievements."
Li Yuan nodded in understanding.
When young, with abundant vital energy, it was indeed easier to break through in martial arts.
"Martial arts training is a miraculous evolution of life," Xu said, his eyes shining. "In reality, we humans know very little about life cultivation. Whether it's the seven basic methods or the seven advanced methods... they've all been gradually summarized over the centuries by many high-level martial artists in the Seven Star Alliance."
"Over eighty years ago, during the first martial arts college entrance exam, the Seven Star Alliance only announced three advanced cultivation methods."
Li Yuan's eyes brightened.
Many of the insights Xu shared were things he hadn't known before.
"All cultivation methods aim to promote the evolution of life, enhancing our physical constitution continuously," Xu looked at Li Yuan. "And you, practicing only the basic methods without any precious resources, are improving faster than most students in the elite class."
"What does that indicate?"
"It suggests that your true talent might be quite high," Xu sighed lightly. "It's just that it doesn't align with any of the seven advanced cultivation methods."
(End of Chapter)